or Love it or Leave It - when it comes to the Fiestas Patronales
Every town in Mexico has a nine-day annual fiesta honoring their patron saint. The festivals are religious, pagan and secular all at once here in Mexico where contradictions live happily side by side! Whether you will want to join in the fun or head for the hills (or in this case beach) will largely depend on how much you like to party, the proximity of your home to the town square, and your level of noise tolerance.
The Guilds
Ajijic's patron saint festival honoring San Andres (Saint Andrew) is held every year from … [Read more...]

They Spend Like Real Money!
While Mexican money may look like Monopoly money at first glance, it spends just like real money, so it's good idea to get familiar with the Mexican peso before you arrive.
If you're not used to dealing in more than one currency, it can feel daunting at first to convert from your home currency to pesos quickly and confidently. It's common to see flustered people thrust a handful of cash and coins at cashiers in Mexico so that vendors could pick out the appropriate amount from their hands. That's NOT the recommended way of doing things, even though there are many … [Read more...]

Mexico is full of treasures and lakeside is all around Lake Chapala, which the indigenous used to call the sea of Chapala due to its size. The north side of the lake that we commonly call Lakeside from east to west consists basically of the towns of Chapala, Ajijic, San Juan Cosala, and Jocotepec. On the south side of lake you'll find from west to east the towns of San Luis Soyotlan, Tuxcueca, Tizapan, Sahuayo and Petatan (where the pelicans come to winter), Sahuayo and Jilquipan.
I've been curious about the 'other' side of the lake ever since arriving in Ajijic almost two years ago. A … [Read more...]

Congratulations - the decision is made and you are heading south of the border! When you arrive Lakeside it's a good idea to take several months to acclimate and manage all the business involved with starting a new life in a new country, but once you're feeling settled you may want to find a way to give back to the community that is hosting us.
From the first expats who came to the area, Lakeside has a long history of volunteerism and today there are many established charities that could use your help and, if there is something you would like to do that's not currently available, you may … [Read more...]

Death in Mexico
One of the many reasons I decided to retire in Mexico is related to the Mexican attitude towards death. Mexicans embrace death in a way that is healthy and joyful and that spills over onto the expats living here. Not long ago I heard about a local expat with cancer who was given weeks to live. His response was to host a party and bring in the mariachis! When a local passes away, there is a funeral procession that often includes bands, mariachis and rockets. People mourn deeply for their loved ones but there is a general acceptance that death is part of life. The elderly are … [Read more...]

State of the Lake 2018 Update

About Focus on Mexico

Get the essential information and advice you need to decide if Mexico - and Mexico's Lake Chapala area - are right for you. We specialize in educational programs and services to make your next chapter in life the most rewarding ever! Find out more about Focus here.Read More

On your Journey of Discovery to retire in this land of enchantment, we cover topics that will be important to you…immigration, health options available in Mexico, legal and financial topics, and information that will guide you through the decision-making process of buying or renting a house, options for moving, bringing your pets, and a myriad of other details that we have collected during Focus on Mexico’s 20 years of experience guiding our participants through the Lake Chapala area.